Mets' Shintaro Fujinami: Sent outright to Triple-A
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The Mets outrighted Fujinami to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Fujinami is making $3.35 million in 2024, so it's not surprising that he passed through waivers unclaimed after being designated for assignment. He'll remain at Syracuse, where he holds an 10.95 ERA and 14:25 K:BB over 12.1 frames this season.
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Mets' Shintaro Fujinami: Pushed off 40-man roster
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The Mets activated Fujinami (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Friday and designated him for assignment.
Fujinami's tenure with the Mets will end before it began. The reliever was sent down to the minors after a rough spring training and missed more than a month of action with a shoulder strain. Fujinami had been on a rehab assignment for the past month and appears healthy now, but the Mets have elected to move him off the 40-man roster rather than opening up a spot for him in the big-league bullpen.
Fujinami (shoulder) was sent Tuesday to the Mets' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate to begin a rehab assignment.
Fujinami has been out all season with a right shoulder strain but is finally ready for game action. He will require a lengthy rehab assignment which will eventually involve him moving up to higher affiliates. Fujinami isn't expected to return from the 60-day injured list until the second half.
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Mets' Shintaro Fujinami: Shifted to 60-day IL
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The Mets transferred Fujinami (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for catcher Joe Hudson, who had his contract selected from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday. Fujinami has been out all season with a right shoulder strain and is expected to remain out until after the All-Star break.
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Mets' Shintaro Fujinami: Set to miss 6-to-8 more weeks
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Fujinami, who was placed on the 15-day injured list May 13 with a right shoulder strain, is expected to be sidelined for six-to-eight more weeks, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Fujinami was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse after struggling in spring training. Those struggles continued across his nine minor-league games, as he registered a 14.09 ERA and 3.33 WHIP across 7.2 innings before landing on the IL. The good news for Fujinami is that he isn't expected to need surgery, but the 30-year-old right-hander will be out of action until mid-to-late July.
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Mets' Shintaro Fujinami: Recalled, placed on 15-day IL
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The Mets recalled Fujinami from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday and placed him on the 15-day injured list due to a right shoulder strain.
Fujinami hadn't pitched for Syracuse since May 3 due to the injury. He had yet to make his 2024 debut for the Mets, but he was likely recalled and placed on the 15-day IL in the event New York needs to move him to the 60-day IL down the road to open up a 40-man roster spot.
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Mets' Shintaro Fujinami: Sent to minors
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The Mets optioned Fujinami to minor-league camp Saturday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Fujinami joined the Mets on a one-year, $3.35 million deal back on Feb. 2 after spending 2023 with the Athletics and Orioles. He struggled in spring training, allowing five earned runs on four hits and four walks while striking out five over 3.2 innings. Fujinami will likely start the 2024 season in the minors and look to work his way into the Mets' bullpen.
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Mets' Shintaro Fujinami: Control deserts him Friday
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Fujinami gave up three runs on three walks, a hit by pitch and three wild pitches without recording an out in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.
There's no sugar-coating this one. Fujinami threw only eight of 22 pitches for strikes to begin the eighth inning, and his wild display came mainly against prospects and fringe major leaguers, with Victor Robles being the biggest name he faced. The 29-year-old right-hander carries a 13.50 ERA and 3:4 K:BB through 2.2 spring innings, and while his big fastball keeps earning him chances in MLB, he's on his third organization in two seasons and a spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen is by no means assured.
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Mets' Shintaro Fujinami: Slated to pitch Wednesday
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Fujinami (personal) returned to the Mets' camp this week and is scheduled to appear in relief during Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
The upcoming appearance will mark the spring debut for Fujinami, who signed a one-year deal with the Mets in early February but was a late arrival to camp while he remained in his home country of Japan to attend to a family matter. Since the Mets are likely viewing Fujinami as a one- or two-inning reliever this season, he'll likely need just a handful of appearances in the spring to get fully ramped up for Opening Day.
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Mets' Shintaro Fujinami: Debut pushed back to Thursday
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Fujinami's (personal) Grapefruit League debut will now take place Thursday versus the Nationals after Wednesday's game against the Astros was rained out, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Fujinami is healthy but faced a delay to his spring training while tending to a family matter in his native Japan. He will still have plenty of time to get ramped up ahead of Opening Day.
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Mets' Shintaro Fujinami: Steps away for personal matter
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Fujinami is flying back to Japan on Friday to attend to a family matter, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander agreed to a one-year, $3.35 million deal with the Mets in early February, but he won't be with the team for the start of spring games due to the family issue. Fujinami is expected to be back with the club in plenty of time to get ready before Opening Day.
Fujinami agreed to a one-year, $3.35 million contract with the Mets on Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The Japanese right-hander made his MLB debut with Oakland as a starter last season but was moved to the bullpen after posting a 14.26 ERA in the rotation. Fujinami pitched better as a reliever and was dealt to Baltimore in July, though his 4.85 ERA for his new club still wasn't pretty. He has plenty of strikeout potential with a 98-plus-mph fastball, but his 9.5 K/9 was underwhelming while his 5.1 BB/9 illustrated his control issues.
Fujinami isn't on the Orioles' playoff roster for their ALDS matchup against Texas, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Fujinami recorded a 4.85 ERA and 1.21 WHIP through 29.2 innings for Baltimore in the regular season, and he will be held off the ALDS roster to clear space for an extra bench bat. If the Orioles are able to make it past the Rangers, it's possible Fujinami rejoins the active roster to provide a fresh arm out of the bullpen.
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Orioles' Shintaro Fujinami: Awarded win over Red Sox
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Fujinami (7-8) struck out one without putting a runner on base over 1.2 innings to earn the win Saturday over the Red Sox.
Fujinami inherited a pair of runners in the fifth inning and saw them pull off a double steal to both get into scoring position, but he nullified the threat. He then pitched a tidy sixth inning and was ultimately awarded the win in a 13-12 Baltimore victory. With 4.2 scoreless innings and six strikeouts over four outings in September, it appears the Orioles are starting to get the best out of Fujinami. He still has a 7.15 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 79:39 K:BB through 73 innings this year, but he's been much more effective as a reliever with Baltimore than he was in any role with Oakland to begin the campaign.
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Orioles' Shintaro Fujinami: Picks up second save
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Fujinami struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Angels.
Fujinami has maintained scoreless outings in 13 of his 20 appearances with the Orioles, though they haven't all been as crisp as Tuesday's nine-pitch inning. The save was his second of the year, and he's added a hold in his time with Baltimore to get to four holds on the year. The right-hander is at a 7.42 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 77:39 K:BB through 70.1 innings overall, but he's been noticeably better with the Orioles, pitching to a 4.71 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 21 innings since he was dealt from the Athletics.
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Orioles' Shintaro Fujinami: Earns win Friday
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Fujinami (6-8) allowed a hit and struck out two over two scoreless innings to earn the win Friday over the Rockies.
Fujinami threw 16 of 23 pitches for strikes and became the pitcher of record when Baltimore went ahead in the bottom of the eighth inning. The right-hander has strung together three scoreless outings spanning four innings. He's been inconsistent since joining the Orioles, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) across 17 innings, though his 21:9 K:BB in that span shows his potential for success. Overall, the right-hander has a 7.60 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 72:39 K:BB over 66.1 innings between the Orioles and the Athletics this year, and he's added a save and four holds.
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Orioles' Shintaro Fujinami: Collects first save
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Fujinami struck out one without putting a runner on base in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 5-3 extra-inning win over the Mariners.
Fujinami uncorked a wild pitch in the outing, but it was his lone mistake. The right-hander has showed some talent since he was traded from Oakland, but he's also allowed seven runs (six earned) with a 12:8 K:BB over 10.1 innings across his 10 appearances in that span. Overall, he's posted a 7.99 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 63:38 K:BB with a save, four holds and a 5-8 record over 59.2 innings across 44 outings (seven starts) this year. Until he can display better command, Fujinami is likely to see only sporadic late-inning assignments in a bullpen as strong as Baltimore's.
